6 Signs of Suspicious Activity and How to Report It
When it comes to premeditated crimes like terrorism, there are often subtle signs beforehand. Many people may pass a criminal preparing to commit a crime and not even realise. Knowing the signs and how to report them can help stop suspicious activity before anyone is harmed.
Sometimes, people have an innocent and legitimate reason for acting in this way, but someone doing multiple things on this list may suggest something more.
Know the signs
Repetitive driving
If you see someone driving the same route over and over again, they may be watching someone or somewhere. This may be over a short space of time or spread out across a whole day. Take a note of their licence plate.
Sitting in a parked car
Similar to driving repetitively, sitting in a parked car for a long time can be a sign of suspicious activity. This is especially true if it is dark and they have no lights on. As with any car-related suspicious activity, pay attention to their licence plate number if you intend to report them.
Inappropriate or oversized clothing
While oversized clothing is currently trendy, it can also be used to conceal weapons. In the summer especially, bulky clothing could suggest that something else is going on. Someone hiding a weapon may also be focused on one side of their body, repeatedly adjusting just one side of their clothing or patting themselves.
Excessive questions
If someone asks you a lot of questions about a person or a building, they could be planning something illegal. Questions about schedules, entry points and security all combined may indicate a plan to commit a crime in a building.
Hands in pockets
On its own, this is not a sign of suspicious behaviour – many people do this for comfort and warmth. However, combined with other things on this list, it could indicate that someone is hiding a weapon that they keep checking on.
Attempted intrusion
Some thieves will test door handles to see if a car or building is locked. If you see someone walking down a street testing multiple doors or windows, this could be a sign that they are looking for an easy place to break into.
How to report suspicious activity
If someone is in immediate danger, you should go directly to the police. Contact them by calling 911.
If you see suspicious activity in a non-urgent situation, you can contact the police directly by calling 211. However, if you do not want to share your identity, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-8477 or use our online form.
Anonymously report suspicious activity
Reporting suspicious activity is an important part of crime prevention. However, there are many reasons why you may prefer to keep your own identity private. Crime Stoppers Bermuda is a registered charity that provides an anonymous crime-reporting service.
We compile your information into an anonymised report and then send it to the appropriate authority. Call 800-8477 or use our online form to report crime anonymously.